# 1988–89 Bolton Wanderers F.C. season

The 1988–1989 season was the 110th season in Bolton Wanderers F.C.'s existence, and their first season back in the Football League Third Division following promotion from the Football League Fourth Division. It covers the period from 1 July 1988 to 30 June 1989.

## Results
### Football League Division Three

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 27 August 1988 | Southend United | A | 0–2 | | 4,075 |
| 3 September 1988 | Cardiff City | H | 4–0 | Thomas, Henshaw, Darby (2) | 4,831 |
| 10 September 1988 | Reading | A | 1–1 | Thomas | 4,660 |
| 17 September 1988 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–1 | Brown | 4,821 |
| 27 September 1988 | Fulham | H | 3–2 | Savage, Thompson, Morgan | 4,289 |
| 24 September 1988 | Aldershot Town | A | 3–0 | Stevens, Brookman | 2,127 |
| 1 October 1988 | Sheffield United | H | 2–0 | Thompson (2) (1pen) | 9,345 |
| 4 October 1988 | Swansea City | A | 0–1 | | 3,283 |
| 8 October 1988 | Blackpool | H | 2–2 | Morgan, Thompson (pen) | 7,106 |
| 15 October 1988 | Port Vale | A | 1–2 | Brookman | 7,985 |
| 22 October 1988 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–2 | Morgan | 8,174 |
| 25 October 1988 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–1 | Brookman | 4,438 |
| 29 October 1988 | Chesterfield | H | 5–0 | Brown (2), Morgan (2), Stevens | 4,783 |
| 5 November 1988 | Bristol City | A | 1–1 | Morgan | 8,808 |
| 8 November 1988 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–0 | Morgan | 7,802 |
| 12 November 1988 | Bury | H | 2–4 | Brown, Thompson | 7,897 |
| 26 November 1988 | Northampton Town | H | 2–1 | Stevens, Brookman | 4,446 |
| 3 December 1988 | Brentford | A | 0–3 | | 4,600 |
| 17 December 1988 | Chester City | H | 0–1 | | 4,318 |
| 26 December 1988 | Preston North End | A | 1–3 | Savage | 12,124 |
| 31 December 1988 | Notts County | A | 0–2 | | 5,096 |
| 2 January 1989 | Mansfield Town | H | 0–0 | | 4,936 |
| 6 January 1989 | Gillingham | H | 2–1 | Stevens, Thompson | 4,178 |
| 14 January 1989 | Cardiff City | A | 0–1 | | 4,212 |
| 21 January 1989 | Reading | H | 1–1 | Henshaw | 5,172 |
| 28 January 1989 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | | 5,311 |
| 4 February 1989 | Sheffield United | A | 0–4 | | 11,162 |
| 11 February 1989 | Swansea City | H | 1–0 | Savage | 4,178 |
| 18 February 1989 | Blackpool | A | 0–2 | | 5,552 |
| 4 March 1989 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–1 | | 13,521 |
| 11 March 1989 | Bristol City | H | 2–0 | Darby (2) | 4,423 |
| 14 March 1989 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | Thompson | 2,877 |
| 18 March 1989 | Southend United | H | 0–0 | | 3,505 |
| 25 March 1989 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–1 | Savage | 3,256 |
| 27 March 1989 | Preston North End | H | 1–0 | Thompson | 10,281 |
| 1 April 1989 | Chester City | A | 0–0 | | 3,225 |
| 4 April 1988 | Gillngham | A | 1–0 | Thomas | 3,096 |
| 8 April 1989 | Notts County | H | 3–3 | Thomas, Thompson, Morgan | 4,521 |
| 15 April 1989 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | Morgan | 4,950 |
| 22 April 1989 | Aldershot Town | H | 1–0 | Savage | 4,407 |
| 25 April 1989 | Port Vale | H | 1–1 | Chandler | 5,296 |
| 29 April 1989 | Bury | A | 0–0 | | 4,393 |
| 1 May 1989 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–1 | Chandler, Morgan, Thomas | 5,511 |
| 6 May 1989 | Brentford | H | 4–2 | Thomas (2), Darby, Savage | 4,627 |
| 1 May 1989 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–1 | Storer | 6,166 |
| 13 May 1989 | Northampton Town | A | 3–2 | Thomas (2), Stuart Storer | 3,655 |
| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 8 | Chester City | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 64 | 61 | +3 | 68 | |
| 9 | Notts County | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 64 | 54 | +10 | 67 | |
| 10 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 58 | 54 | +4 | 64 | |
| 11 | Bristol City | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 53 | 55 | −2 | 63 | |
| 12 | Swansea City | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 51 | 53 | −2 | 61 | Welsh Cup winners, qualified for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1989–90 First round |

### FA Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 19 November 1988 | Round 1 | Chesterfield | H | 0–0 | | 4,840 |
| 28 November 1988 | Round 1 replay | Chesterfield | A | 3–2 | Stevens, Storer, Darby | 4,168 |
| 10 December 1988 | Round 2 | Port Vale | H | 1–2 | Keeley | 7,499 |

### Littlewoods Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 30 August 1988 | Round 1 First Leg | Chester City | H | 1–0 | Darby | 3,535 |
| 7 September 1988 | Round 1 Second Leg | Chester City | A | 1–3 | Cowdrill | 3,784 |

### Sherpa Van Trophy

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 6 December 1988 | Group Stage Game One | Preston North End | H | 1–0 | Thompson | 2,695 |
| 20 November 1988 | Group Stage Game Two | Bury | A | 0–1 | | 2,023 |
| 17 January 1989 | Northern Section Round 1 | Preston North End | A | 1–0 | Darby | 5,569 |
| 21 February 1989 | Northern Section Round 2 | Wrexham | H | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Winstanley (2), Savage | 3,833 |
| 21 March 1989 | Northern Section Semi Final | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Winstanley, Brown | 5,875 |
| 11 April 1989 | Northern Section Final First Leg | Blackpool | H | 1–0 | Darby | 10,345 |
| 18 April 1989 | Northern Section Final Second Leg | Blackpool | A | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Thompson (pen) | 10,345 |
| 28 May 1989 | Final | Torquay United | Wembley Stadium | 4–1 | Darby, Morrison (og), Crombie, Morgan | 46,513 |

## Top scorers

| P | Player | Position | FL | FAC | LC | SVT | Total |
| 1 | Trevor Morgan | Striker | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 1 | Steve Thompson | Midfielder | 09 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| 3 | Julian Darby | Striker | 05 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 4 | John Thomas | Striker | 09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 09 |
| 5 | Robbie Savage | Midfielder | 06 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 07 |